The stone of the outrage

The stone of the outrage

 
A marble stone situated in the centre of the "Mercato Nuovo" in Florence marks the place where the "Carroccio" stayed during Middle Ages. The "Carroccio" was the charriot of the Florentine republic decorated with the colors of the city hall and with the Florentine lily; it followed Florentine army during his movements and troops protected it. When the flag of the city fell down because the enemies won the battle, it was a real defeat for Florence. For this reason the stone has the shape of a green and white wheel!
During the XV century failed merchants were punished here and they suffered a terrible public injury. They couldn't move because their hands were Tied, their trousers fell down and their bottom hit three times on the stone. A Florentine saying goes: "Essere con il culo a terra" (that means go bankrupt) or "avere sculo" (to be unlucky). They both refer to this event! 
Remember that Middle class composed by merchants was associated in different guilds in the XIV century: seven Major guilds (Merchants textile, wool manufacturers, silk, judges and notaries, bankers, furriers, merchants of spices and dyes) and fourteen
Minor guilds. From 1282 priors were representatives of the seven Major guilds: they fighted against the old aristocratic families revenging an active role of trade in Florence. They had a lot of success, in fact the trade of wool and the guild of bankers were at the base of the development of Florentine economy!


 

The stone where merchants were punished and the statue of MIchele di Lando the leader of one of the lower classes who worked for the guild of wool.
He encoraged the insurrection of these people in 1378 besieging together the priors palace to safeguard their rights.
Altri articoli
Santa Reparata and its precious remains
Santa Reparata and its precious remains

Santa reparata was destroyed only at the end of the XIV century when works for the edification of the new one were going on.

The particular self-portrait
The particular self-portrait

It's a little bit strange because the Cathedral and the three doors too are entirely dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

What are these two men
What are these two men

Even the genius Leonardo studied it and reproduced wooden models of the machines Brunelleschi employed to move the material he needed!

Florence Feasts S. John Baptist
Florence Feasts S. John Baptist

The last match of the traditional football game will be held In the afternoon at 5.00 p.m. in Piazza Santa Croce